Word list · Teens & Adults
Common Phrasal Verbs List with Examples
Get up, find out, run out of: the phrasal verbs of a normal day.
- Age
- Ages 13+
- Level
- A2–B1
- Skill
- Vocabulary
- Format
- Interactive
- Phrasal verbs & idioms
- 25 words
Practise
Three ways to learn the list. Nothing is saved: start again whenever you like.
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get up
phrasal verb
The list
Tap the speaker to hear each word.
get up
phrasal verb · A2
to get out of bed after sleeping
I usually get up at seven, but on Sundays I stay in bed until nine.
wake up
phrasal verb · A2
to stop sleeping
I woke up at five because the neighbours' dog was barking.
look for
phrasal verb · A2
to try to find something or someone
I'm looking for my keys. Have you seen them anywhere?
look after
phrasal verb · B1
to take care of someone or something
My mum looks after the children when we're both at work.
turn on
phrasal verb · A2
to make a light or machine start working
Could you turn on the light? It's getting dark in here.
turn off
phrasal verb · A2
to make a light or machine stop working
Please turn off your phones before the film starts.
put on
phrasal verb · A2
to start wearing a piece of clothing
Put on a warm coat. It's freezing outside.
take off
phrasal verb · A2
to remove a piece of clothing or your shoes
Please take off your shoes when you come into the flat.
give up
phrasal verb · B1
to stop doing something, especially a habit
My dad gave up smoking ten years ago and feels much healthier now.
find out
phrasal verb · B1
to discover a fact or a piece of information
I need to find out what time the last train leaves.
pick up
phrasal verb · B1
to collect someone or something from a place
Can you pick up the kids from school today? I'm stuck at work.
go out
phrasal verb · A2
to leave your home to do something social, like eating or seeing friends
We're going out for dinner tonight, so I won't cook.
come back
phrasal verb · A2
to return to a place
She went to Spain for a two-week holiday and never came back!
sit down
phrasal verb · A2
to move into a sitting position
Come in and sit down. I'll make us some tea.
fill in
phrasal verb · B1
to write the information needed on a form
You need to fill in this form and sign it at the bottom.
run out of
phrasal verb · B1
to use all of something so that none is left
We've run out of milk, so I'll buy some on the way home.
get on with
phrasal verb · B1
to have a friendly relationship with someone
I get on with my sister really well, even though we're very different.
put off
phrasal verb · B1
to decide to do something later instead of now
Stop putting off your tax return and just do it today!
tidy up
phrasal verb · A2
to make a place clean and organised
Let's tidy up the living room before our guests arrive.
throw away
phrasal verb · A2
to get rid of something you do not want or need
Don't throw away those glass jars. I can use them for jam.
look forward to
phrasal verb · B1
to feel happy and excited about something that is going to happen
I'm really looking forward to the summer holidays.
set off
phrasal verb · B1
to start a journey
We set off for the airport at six to avoid the traffic.
calm down
phrasal verb · B1
to become less angry, upset or excited
Calm down, it's only a small scratch on the car.
work out
phrasal verb · B1
to do physical exercise to get fit
I work out at the gym three times a week.
grow up
phrasal verb · A2
to change from a child into an adult
I grew up in a small town by the sea.
Use it: speaking task
For pairs or small groups, about ten minutes.
Work in pairs. Answer each question with two or three sentences and use the phrasal verb in your answer. Your partner asks one follow-up question.
- What time do you usually get up on a working day, and what time do you wake up at the weekend?
- What is something you put off doing until the last minute?
- Have you ever given up a habit? How did you do it?
- Who do you get on with best in your family, and why?
- What are you looking forward to this month?
Printable worksheet
One page of matching and gap-fill, the speaking task, and an answer key on a separate page.
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Name: ______________________ Date: ____________
A. Match each word with its meaning.
- 1. get up ____
- 2. look for ____
- 3. turn on ____
- 4. put on ____
- 5. give up ____
- 6. pick up ____
- 7. come back ____
- 8. fill in ____
- 9. get on with ____
- 10. tidy up ____
- a) to start wearing a piece of clothing
- b) to have a friendly relationship with someone
- c) to make a light or machine start working
- d) to stop doing something, especially a habit
- e) to try to find something or someone
- f) to return to a place
- g) to write the information needed on a form
- h) to make a place clean and organised
- i) to collect someone or something from a place
- j) to get out of bed after sleeping
B. Complete the sentences with words from the box.
find out · going out · looks after · putting off · run out of · sit down · take off · throw away · turn off · woke up
- 1. I at five because the neighbours' dog was barking.
- 2. My mum the children when we're both at work.
- 3. Please your phones before the film starts.
- 4. Please your shoes when you come into the flat.
- 5. I need to what time the last train leaves.
- 6. We're for dinner tonight, so I won't cook.
- 7. Come in and . I'll make us some tea.
- 8. We've milk, so I'll buy some on the way home.
- 9. Stop your tax return and just do it today!
- 10. Don't those glass jars. I can use them for jam.
C. Use it: speak
Work in pairs. Answer each question with two or three sentences and use the phrasal verb in your answer. Your partner asks one follow-up question.
- What time do you usually get up on a working day, and what time do you wake up at the weekend?
- What is something you put off doing until the last minute?
- Have you ever given up a habit? How did you do it?
- Who do you get on with best in your family, and why?
- What are you looking forward to this month?
Answer key
A. 1j · 2e · 3c · 4a · 5d · 6i · 7f · 8g · 9b · 10h
- B.
- 1. woke up
- 2. looks after
- 3. turn off
- 4. take off
- 5. find out
- 6. going out
- 7. sit down
- 8. run out of
- 9. putting off
- 10. throw away